Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Ghost Towns and Gold Rushes




I took this photo of a dilapidated house just outside of a small town called Fossil, Oregon. Eastern Oregon is full of ghost towns that emerge unexpectedly along hill crests on long, lonesome roads. Over Labor Day I took a trip out to the town of The Dalles, Oregon. It is a beautiful old town on the Columbia River which has a rich past as a home to the Fort Dalles. Fort Dalles was the final stop on the Oregon Trail. It is a very interesting place with a historic museum that was once part of the old fort, dating back to the 1850s.

Oregon boasts a total of 18 ghost towns -- more than any other state. Of course, there are always places that have been swept away without notice (and along the way I saw many abandoned buildings that were not part of any town). However, Oregon is full of ghost towns, and they sit casually at the side its winding highways. Many towns were built due to gold mining, but were abandoned after railways bypassed them and ended up creating and supporting different boom towns. Others were abandoned just because the settlers hadn't anticipated weather conditions which rendered their crops useless.

During their time, gold rushes represented a significant part of American history. Now, there is a different sort of rush at hand: the rush to find sustainable alternative energy. Wind farms now line many different parts of the Columbia River Gorge, which is a natural wind tunnel. Business in wind energy is now so lucrative that some describe the scramble to acquire the means/land to create these wind farms as similar to the gold rush. As a result, small communities experience an influx of population and business during the creation of the wind sites, and a waning when the company leaves in the direction of another venture.

Along the same trip, I also took this photo of wind turbines being assembled an hour east of The Dalles. A friend works as a field engineer for a company that specializes in putting up windmill farms. Each of these windmills are immense at 300 feet high, and have huge blades like jumbo jet airplane wings. They generate 2.4 megawatts each, and the power is harnessed by high voltage lines right nearby, and sent to California (among other places along the way, of course). The largest wind farm in the world may soon be along the Columbia River in Oregon.

After seeing buildings in various stages of decay all along the scenic Journey Through Time Scenic Byway (a beautiful drive that everyone should experience), I was left to wonder what around us is on the rise, and what is on its way to being outmoded.

8 comments:

Linda S. Socha said...

Wonderful post!

I am new to Wind
Farms!That photo is almost mystical E.T. in quality.

I confess, however, I am taken by the Ghost town shot...Do you sell these? It resonates with something...cannot name it today... in my home town...not in Oregon... but apparently a distance cousin.

I am coming to see you are multi talented Ezekiel! Thanks for sharing this one!
Linda

Ezekiel Barzillai Smythe said...

Hi Linda. I do happen to have a matted photo 11x14, of the house from an art show I just had 2 weeks ago. If you are interested in seeing some photos, let me know. I've sold them online before and can do paypal if so desired.

As always, thanks for taking the time to leave thoughtful comments.
:)

Rhi said...

Isn't that ironic? A town of long ago that is now long-forgotten is just an hour away from an up-and-coming new technological site? It makes me wonder what new advances they'll have twenty years from now, and when I've put half a century or more behind me. By then, I'm sure this windmill "discovery" will just be a thing of the past.

I remember when I was younger my family took a trip to Jerome, Arizona. Jerome, like Fossil, was a gold rush town. However, a really cool fact... Jerome is a "ghost town," but people still live in it. It became a National Historic Landmark in the late 70's and people brought it back to life. I remember it was SOOO hot that summer day, and all I wanted to do was leave. I never realized how important Jerome was. I wonder if Jerome will survive to see me grow older. Interesting to think about..

Thanks for the great post.

Linda S. Socha said...

Hello! I just wanted to stop by and thank you for your blog friendship and to express my appreciation for the sharing you don on your blog. I set up two awards for you on my blog. The first one is called "Uber Amazing Blog" and the second one is the "Kreativ Blogger" award. Please feel free to also pass them along to any blogger friends you may have or to simply display them on your blog like I hope you will do. Please click here to get you there quick.

Linda S. Socha said...

Ezekiel
Yes please give me the info regarding the print via email. THANKS
lindasocha@aol.com

Ezekiel Barzillai Smythe said...

Rhi, that's a fascinating story. I had to look up Jerome and see what kind of place it was. One day maybe I'll visit it!

Linda, thanks for always stopping by and being such a nice blogger. I sent you an email.

Linda S. Socha said...

Ezekiel
I would like to invite you to become a blog follower of Psyche Heart Connections! Please join as a blog follower. I would love to have you there! A click will do the trick!
Linda

Rhi said...

It's a fascinating place. I hope to go back someday. Let me know if you ever do make it there!